"Residential life trumps everything else."

I frequent Holmes when visiting a friend and I have to say it's an ideal residential community. Free from big box stores but close enough to get all of your necessities, Holmes is a great location for those who want some peace and quiet. Residents have easy access to Kent in Putnam County via Route 52 and Interstate 84 or to Pawling, which mixes a subdued local community with a strip of larger commercial real estate like Hannaford Supermarket on Route 22. It seems to be the breaking point between a more suburban lifestyle common in Westchester and Putnam Counties and the expanse of country experienced by most Dutchess County residents. Greenery and hilly terrain compose most of the landscape which ultimately forces residential communities within Holmes to clump into cul-de-sacs and smaller neighborhoods, allowing nature to do its thing. Holmes a perfect setting for families with small children and retirees looking to escape the busy life.

Like most towns, villages and hamlets north of New York City and Westchester County, you'll need a car to get most places. A lot of people don't mind this, but it can get dicey when planning out nightlife because you'll have to travel deeper into Dutchess or Putnam County to find anything to do. There isn't much of a business base in Holmes so for the most part people commute. As much as I enjoy taking a drive through Holmes, I wouldn't recommend it for people right out of college or young professionals. It doubles as a safe haven for your young children and a place to settle down for older couples and retirees.

"Not Much Here"

Holmes is one of those hamlets that easily gets forgotten or lumped together with its neighbors. It's actually fairly large, stretching from Pawling and touching parts of Patterson and Carmel, but its a sparsely developed, strictly residential plot of land.

The types, and prices, of homes varies greatly depending on exactly where in Holmes the home is located. There are old farms, new developments and small lake communities. This includes the large Whaley Lake which has boat rentals, fishing and swimming to offer residents.

But there's not much else in Holmes. There are a few small-town businesses but for even basic food shopping you will have to travel at least to Patterson.

Children living in Holmes will attend either Carmel or Pawling schools, both of which have a good reputation. I'm unsure where the school lines are drawn but, having attended Carmel schools, I knew many kids who lived in Holmes.

As mentioned in other reviews, don't be fooled by the proximity to I-84. Without being so close to the interstate it would be very hard to get to and from Holmes using the small town roads and, due to the lack of commercial development, work would be difficult to come by.

Although it's incredibly easy to get to Holmes, unless you live there, there's no real reason to go.

"A homey part of Pawling"

Holmes is pretty much an all residential hamlet within the parent town of Pawling, NY in Dutchess County. The area, in general, is quite tranquil and undisturbed and filled with mid to large scale colonials, Victorians and more modern single family homesteads. Holmes is a place to come home to and just enjoy your abode and/or loved ones. But if you want to get out for a nosh or have some fun there isn't much of anything in the immediate vicinity so it is best to head into Pawling.

For your grocery shopping needs you can hit up the Family Quick Stop, Pawling Beer & Soda and Pawling Hannaford Supermarket & Pharmacy.

A gem of a Pawling institution is the beloved Town Crier Café which proudly presents exceptional live music and has been doing so since 1972. In fact, people from other towns and states flock here to hear everything from folk to jazz to blues to rock to Celtic music, Cajun music, Zydeco, roots and world. Pete Seeger, Roseanne Cash, Suzanne Vega, Sawn Colvin, Arlo Guthrie, Lucinda Williams are but a few of the amazing talents to have performed there.

The town of Pawling has a very well developed parks and recreation program. They hold a wonderful annual Fireman’s Parade and Carnival. They have terrific programs for toddlers, pre-adolescents, teens, adults and seniors. They have great summer day camps. There are quite a few decent parks, as well. Edward R. Murrow Memorial Park has a playground, swimming, a picnic area, camping as well as lovely hiking and horse trails. The town’s “Music by the Lake” summer series is held in Lakeside Park which has tennis courts, a lake and a beach where you can boat and swim as well as bbq grills and picnic tables. Pawling is also home to The Dutcher Golf Course which is the oldest public golf course in the nation. And last but not least, there is the very cool Appalachian Trail for eager hikers.

Holmes is pretty safe and the crime rate is relatively low.

Holmes’ students are a part of the Pawling Central School District which is very good,

"Near the interstate, yet very isolated"

Holmes is an area primarily in Pawling, New York, located right off of Interstate 84 in Dutchess County (and extending into northeastern Putnam County). Just because there's a highway here, however, doesn't mean it's not isolated and lacking things to do. I'm sure that those who live there can appreciate it as a small, green community, but there simply is not anything here except houses, and they aren't necessarily all that close together.

This part of Dutchess County is generally unpopulated, anyway, and Holmes is no different. There are very few businesses present here -- off the top of my head, there is an auto repair shop visible from the interstate, right near a large highway department winter salt shed. Otherwise, when you drive through here, either on the highway or the side streets, you'll see few signs of civilization. Forget about finding restaurants, bars/nightlife, fitness centers, medical facilities, shopping, and other conveniences along those lines. I know someone who lived in Holmes for a good long while and he ended up having to go in towards Poughkeepsie or sometimes down to Danbury, CT to shop, work out, etc. Driving here, there, and everywhere would often require a notable investment of time.

The largest clump of civilization to Holmes is Patterson in Putnam County, and there is barely anything there, either. The next closest after that is Pawling, which is bigger and similar to other eastern Dutchess County towns like Amenia and Dover Plains with a few shops, places to eat, inns, and a general small-town feel. None of that is located within Holmes, however.

It's a very green area and it tends to be hilly. One may see the occasional swamp driving through, but sometimes that water aggregates in the form of lakes, of which there are quite a few in Holmes. This is at times accompanied by parkland and the scenery can be quite nice. Holmes is a quiet place to raise a family or even just retire.

For professionals, there is at least the Metro North's Harlem Line located in Patterson as well as Interstate 84 very nearby. This helps mitigate the isolation a little bit, but in Holmes, it's you, houses, lakes, and trees. Country lovers might very well be able to appreciate it, but those looking to live an active social life or have amenities nearby will not.

"Lovely Scenery, Not Much Else"

Holmes is a small hamlet within the town of Pawling, Dutchess County, a stone’s throw from the northern border of Putnam. It’s quite isolated, and with the exception of Caterina’s Market and Deli, a new church and a new fire station and a couple other small businesses, it’s undeveloped as well. The students who live in Holmes attend Pawling schools as it does not have its own district. The Holmes-Whaley Lake Civic Association provides classes and workshops for members, and allows its facility to be rented out for parties and events. The association also runs a thrift shop on Saturdays.

There is definite natural beauty to be found, however, in the abundant greenery. There is a mostly man-made lake, Whaley Lake, and Holmes Pond with its very own little waterfall. Home prices seem to average in the high $200s to low-to-mid $300s for single family dwellings. Most of the houses are relatively new, ranch style homes, but home-buyers seeking older homes for their charming details might find something as well.

The primary drawback to Holmes is not its lack of development, but its lack of easy access to highways. It occupies the space almost exactly between Route 22 and Interstate 84, which is an east-west road but curves northward through Putnam and into Dutchess, requiring a fairly lengthy trip just to get to the highway. There’s no easy way to access nearby shopping, recreation and entertainment. It’s really only ideal for hard-core country lovers who don’t mind driving and don’t have long commutes to work.

"Little to do but raise a family..."

To be honest, I don't visit Holmes all that often, though I did briefly look into living here, and I can say that it is a nice little hamlet, and if you're looking for peace and quiet you will find it is perfect.

The problems come from the lack of just about anything to do. There are extremely few restaurants or bars/clubs to visit, and you will quickly discover you have next to no entertainment options. I've lived quite a bit in larger cities, and while I moved to Dutchess County in large part to get away from the hustle and bustle associated with big cities, I found Holmes to be just too quiet. My fiance and I like to go out on occasion, and you just won't find enough options for enjoying yourself.

That said, Holmes is very peaceful, and quite clean, which is nice, and I almost never hear about much crime, so it might be a great place to raise kids. I would not feel nervous about letting my kids running around finding trouble, which I would in a bit city. Thing is, most of Dutchess County is very safe, and I don't feel the boost in safety here is all that dramatic over other areas that have more going on.

If Holmes ever develops into a more happening hamlet with more stores and restaurants, I would love to give it a second chance, and perhaps even live here, but for now I'll stick to other areas that are a bit more interesting.